Bryn #3
“Damn it, Jameo,” I mutter to myself as I lean against the tiled wall.
“Get your head in the game.” But the image of her smirking at me from under the brim of her cap refuses to leave.
If it weren’t for my self-imposed celibacy and her clear interest in me being “rich,” she’d be my usual kryptonite, all tanned legs and a fiery mouth.
Just what I need to screw up my already precarious career.
Unfortunately, my brain and my anatomy down south don’t seem to agree on what our focus is in Wild Bluffs.
Knowing my head is unlikely to win this battle, I let my mind wander back to the girl from this afternoon.
Down her long legs and back up to her adorable smirk, my hand and thoughts wandering into carnal territory.
I’m just about to give in to the urge—it’s been a hot second since that specific club of mine has gotten any play—when the sound of an incoming text pierces the steamy air.
That, of course, will be Lila, my younger sister and—jeez, I’m lame—my best friend.
Unfortunately, and unbeknown to her, she has always had a disturbing habit of interrupting my most private moments.
And getting a text while thinking about getting myself off in the shower is actually very low on the list of embarrassing moments she’s intruded on.
In high school, as I was losing my virginity, I heard my sister’s pipsqueak friends giggling about Lila playing seven minutes in Heaven…as I was about to come inside a girl for the first time.
Needless to say, it was not my best showing, and no one had a happy ending, least of all Bryan Godsey, the sixteen-year-old I found behind a tree with my thirteen-year-old sister.
He was so scared, he may have left with a bit of pee running down his leg.
He should feel lucky it was me rather than my dad who heard her friends.
It wasn't until college that I met Sarah, who fortunately hadn't heard the story of me leaving my date unsatisfied in a field.
Unfortunately, Lila called halfway through, and my phone played the “Cheetah Girls, Cheetah Sisters” song she had picked out as her ringtone until I finally found the Decline button through my horny haze.
Luckily, Sarah was willing to try again after I figured out how to silence my phone.
I have, thankfully, gotten better since then, although my sister’s bad timing remains the same.
Knowing the moment is gone—shit, how pathetic am I that I can’t even romance myself these days?—I sigh and turn off the water.
I grab one of the white, fluffy towels from the rack, sling it around my waist, and sit on the edge of my room’s extra bed.
Lila
Hey, Jameo, how’s the golf thing going?
I can’t help but smile at her nonchalant way of referring to my career.
Me
Could be better.
How’s grad school treating you? Need more cash for textbooks or late-night pizza?
Lila
Haha. I asked for pizza ONE TIME. And I was drunk and very hungry, in my defense.
Plus, you’ve paid for enough. I told you my internship should be enough to cover tuition this semester.
My heart tightens at the memory of the first time she had to ask me for help with her tuition and how embarrassed she had been.
If I hadn’t been such a self-centered ass, I would’ve known the small college fund our parents had saved wouldn’t be enough to cover all four years of an engineering degree plus a master’s degree.
Especially with no sports scholarship like I had.
Me
I’m happy to help you. You get paid shit at your internship, and you should be having fun.
Lila
Like you’re having fun right now? When was the last time you saw any of your friends?
Me
You know being seen with me right now is a black mark on someone’s image, right?
Lila
That’s what private clubs are for. I thought that’s why you were out in the middle of nowhere at the only fancy golf course on the planet where you might accidentally step in cow shit.
Plus, JT reached out to me. You’ve ignored all his texts and calls. FOR A MONTH.
Me
How did he get your number? I swear to God, if he was hitting on you, I’ll shove my driver so far up his ass, it tees up his eyes.
I’m actually very certain Lila and JT haven’t been talking about anything other than how pathetic I am.
They actively hate each other with a passion so strong, I can rarely be in the same area as both my favorite people at once.
My parents set up two tables at Thanksgiving, supposedly because there are so many of us, but really so JT can come without having to fight with Lila the entire time.
Still, it’s nice to remind her every once in a while that she’s too good for every man ever.
Lila
Super gross, oddly specific visual, bud. Plus, who I text is not your concern.
You avoiding the world for the last month, on the other hand, is my concern. I know you haven’t seen your BEST friend. Have you talked to anyone?
Me
I would gladly endure the required brain bleach to even know you’d had a one-night stand at this point.
I sigh, running a hand through my wet hair.
Me
I talked to a hot girl just this afternoon, in fact.
Not not true.